KayBuckaroo's Journal, 18 May 2018

Macros=Macronutrients; protein, carbohydrate, and fat. They matter because the body used them for different reasons and responds to each of them in a different way.  

Uses, not used.  

Aha! You’re very smart and I thank you! 

Yes what cjodyssey said and They are very important whether you are following a specific diet or not. Counting calories alone isn’t the best way to get to your finish line. You could eat only 800 cals of 80% fat and carbs and never lose any weight vs 800 cals balanced out and lose a lb a day. The annoying part is trying to figure out what ratio works for your body specifically 

"You could eat only 800 cals of 80% fat and carbs and never lose any weight vs 800 cals balanced out and lose a lb a day." Incorrect. My own weight history and eating habits show otherwise. If you only eat 800 calories per day, you are going to loose mad weight. It doesn't matter what diet you are on, the goal is to restrict calorie intake. I don't think lowering protein % will help with weight loss. From there, its your choice which of the two macros you want to try and lower. Or balance. The best diet I have seen is a balance of 33% F, 33% Carb, 33% Pro. Its really hard to implement however, unless you are using a food service like BistroMD. They design their meals around that method. I personally try to maintain a 25% F, 50% Carb, 25% Pro balance, eating 1300-1400 calories per day. That is even hard to maintain day-in, day-out.  

What people said above. Macros are simply the percentage balance of fats vs. carbs. vs. proteins you intake. The bod reacts to the ratios differently (in regards to weight loss, how you feel physically, and mental acuity) and IMLTHO there is no 'magic ratio'. So if you are going to put some focus on that, pick a place to start, stick close to those targets for a few days, pay attention to how the bod reacts then make tweaks in the ratios. Rinse and repeat until you hit the combo that works best for you. In my example I started out with a 25F/20C/55P mix but have drifted to a 60F/10C/30P mix cuz that is what seems to keep the bod and brain firing at its best at this time.  

There is no magical macro percentage that fits every human. You have to find what's right for you, what is sustainable for you. Because of my health and my body/makeup, my body responds better to low carb, high fat, medium protein. Someone else's body may have different needs. 

Ggreen67 every body is different (especially when you consider male vs female weight lose). Which is why I said “could” CiCo isn’t the Golden Rule for everyone. Or I wouldn’t be this over weight. Before recently I was use to eating 12- 15k cals of healthy & unhealthy food a day And I work freight/merchandising so I never stop moving. Look where it got me. Our bodies are complex and don’t all process cals the same way.  

And this stuff is so fascinating! The FatSecret app has a suggested ratio for me, so I just thought it was worth mentioning that I got pretty close to that this week. Anyone know how the ratio recommendations are calculated? 

I've never followed that for my weight loss regime, but the intent is to make sure you're getting a balanced diet.  

Macronutrients are those nutrients required in large amounts that provide the energy needed to maintain body functions and carry out the activities of daily life. There are 3 macronutrients – carbohydrates, proteins and fats. 

What should my macro %’s be if I wanna gain muscle and lose fat? The 33X3? 

For that goal, I would think you would be looking at a mix higher in protein, moderate carbs and lower fat. Maybe a 20F/35C/45P. Also the type of exercise you are doing will come into play as well (a focus on resistance exercises) Start from a place that is comfortable and shift to the protein side of things slowly. As you well know, it has to come with a mix of foods and flavors that can be maintained without depriving yourself. 

We don't know your health factors so can't really say how you should configure your choice of intake. For me, the more carbs i eat, the hungrier i get and the more i want to eat, the more easily i gain weight, not to mention inflammation. Higher fat keeps me from getting hungry and keeps me losing weight. 

https://www.bodybuilding.com/images/2016/july/macro-math-3-keys-to-dialing-in-your-macro-ratios-v2-2-700xh.jpg @KayBuckaroo Good article to read. 

macronutrients- nutritional components of your diet. basically a history of ur eating habits and the measurements of the carbs, fats and proteins. its important for you to keep track of whats good for your type of diet.  

Thank you everyone! I am taking this all in. I love this concept, just trying to figure out how to apply it IRL. So, far as carbs go, my carbs are coming from dairy and veggies. No breads or even whole grains for this girl. Still the same factors? 

By health factors i mean the condition of your metabolism, any health conditions you may have, how you mentally or emotionally respond to certain foods, any dietary or religious restrictions, and/or other information. Like, my metabolism is damaged, i have insulin resistance and pcos, i can be an emotional eater, and things like this factor into the best course of action for me. I'd say you are on a good path if you are staying away from sugar and refined carbs. i try not to eat things that trigger me and make me want to eat more and more. 

Counting just calories really did not work for me in the long run. Beginners can start with that method but to fine tune your weight loss (and I have a lot to lose) macros do count toward getting the most bang for the calorie/nutrition. Whatever plan you are following go to an online counter (not FS) to get the numbers that will fit your height, weight, lifestyle, and age. I used keto calculator and another health one to have something to compare it to. After that you can tweak it as you go along. Some people don't like doing all that counting (and use fist size to measure) but I like the security of numbers so I don't cheat. My hand is a lot smaller than some peoples so I could do a fist and a half :)